1983 c.h. (au)

8:put out your cigarette

Calum was avoiding Charlie since there exchangement of confessions almost 2 weeks ago. He was afraid to get too close because stuff like this happened. She would get heartbroken and he wouldn't want to break Charlie's heart. He stood outside taking continuous drags from his cigarette puffing out smoke while scrolling up and down his phone screen doing absolutely nothing waiting for the bus to take him someplace new.

Charlie had her earbuds in and she walked with her hands shoved deep into her pockets, hunched over and kept to herself. She didn't know why Calum decided to fall off the face of the earth right after they told each other deep dark confessions. After an intense argument with her parents she decided to get some fresh air and take a walk. She scoffed at how daft the whole situation was. How dumb and blindsided they were. Didn't they know she was torn apart? Calum distancing himself from her tore her apart even more. Because Liv was gone, Calum reminded her of Liv. He was fulfilling what she needed. Someone to make her happy.

The sun was playing hide and seek with the clouds all day and the sky was light gray. It was a good day to take a walk down to the harbor and see the Golden Gate Bridge. But she had to take a bus to get there since she didn't feel like driving anymore. Her legs lead her to the bus stop which was already claimed by Calum Hood himself. Charlie didn't know what to do. Should she check herself in a car window and walk up to him confidently or pretend that he was nobody to her.

But her body was already reacting without making up her mind. "Hi." She pulled an earbud out gaining Calum's attention.

"Hey."

"How have you been?" Charlie bit down on her lip softly.

"I've been okay." He took a drag from his cigarette and blew it out away from her face. "What about you?"

"I guess I'm hanging in there." Charlie shrugged. "Are you mad at me?" She furrowed her eyebrows together and awaited her fate. She didn't know if she had done something wrong. But then again, what could she have done.

"No Charlie. I'm not mad at you at all." Calum shook his head no to back up his answer.

"Okay then why are you avoiding me?" She crossed her arms over her chest annoyed at Calum's ridiculousness.

He only sighed and shook his head taking another drag from his cigarette. "Okay Charlie look. I have feelings for you. And I feel like you have feelings for me too. And I was thinking maybe our feelings could feel things together." He had just quoted Jordi from Red Band Society. "Yes I watch the show."

"That didn't answer my question though." Charlie stayed the same and rose an eyebrow still annoyed and slightly amused at this whole situation.

"I have feelings for you Charlie Carters. And I know that you have feelings for me too. And I would want nothing more than for our feelings to feel things together. But I can't."

"Why not?" She whispered.

"Because if you get too close you could get hurt. And the last thing I would want to do is to hurt you Charlie." Calum took another drag from his cigarette and blew the smoke onto her face like the first time they met.

"Put out your cigarette and kiss me on the lips tonight." Charlie demanded and who knew that it would work. Calum took one final drag before dropping it on the gravel and crushing it underneath his foot. One of his hands brushed against her cheek and the other brought her closer to him. Softly, Calum pressed his lips to Charlie's trying not to be too overwhelming. His mouth tasted like an unusual mix of tobacco and mint. The blood in Charlie's veins flowed faster and warmer.

Calum ignited her with just one touch but with a kiss was like an explosion. A fury. He pushed her lips open with his and slipped his tongue in her mouth massaging wonderfully. Both his hands slid down to her waist pressing his fingertips in her hips pushing himself closer to her. As close as possible without crushing her entirely.

Charlie hadn't known how much she wanted this. Even though she daydreamed about it with almost every free minute she got. But the daydreams weren't ever enough and she wanted more. Up until now. And with Calum's lips on Charlie's, the whole world disappeared like they were sucked in a vacuum.

Calum pulled away from her first with no haste both of them out of breath. "I'm sorry Charlie. I think I made everything worse." Her chest rose up and down at a fast pace still trying to come off her hormonal high while the euphoric feelings still lingered in the air.

"No. You made it better." Charlie didn't know if anything changed. Maybe Calum would rejoin her planet and make her happy again. Maybe he would hide away only a little bit longer. Maybe he put out his last cigarette.

"Your lips are really soft." Calum rested his hand on the side of her face running his thumb over her cheek. He didn't know what just happened. He didn't know what was going through Charlie's head right now. Maybe she would run away. He hoped not.

"Thank you." Part of him wanted to kiss her again and never stop. Her tongue had tasted like cherry lollipop her signature piece of candy. Part of him knew that he shouldn't kiss her again. And he knew that he shouldn't suggest what he did. "What do you wanna do now." He leaned forward and their foreheads touched softly.

"Lets go home." Charlie wasn't so sure about his proposal but no one would ever reject Calum Hood. Especially not when asked to come home with him. Her breath hitched in her throat as she felt his hands slide down and around her waist. Charlie didn't know what would come next. She hoped not sex. It was obvious that Calum certainly was not a virgin. But Charlie was. And as much as she liked Cal, she was not ready to give something as sacred as that away. Calum pressed himself to Charlie then pushed off her and dragged her by the hand all the way home.

Home was only a few blocks away and apparently was huge. Calum had closed the door behind Charlie. "Mi casa es tu casa." She stood in the foyer marveling at the long hallway.

"How do you live here all alone?" Calum's house wasn't a home. It was just a really large house. Scratch that it was a museum.

"Well I don't. I'm always having parties that are always filled with fun people. But it can get pretty lonely." Calum shrugged.

"It's beautiful." Calum gave her an unofficial tour of the museum that he happens to live in. Apparently he had a pool room, a mini movie theater or screening room but mini movie theater sounds cooler, a specific smoking room and so much more.

"And this is my room," Calum opened the door dramatically. Surprisingly enough, it was clean. Almost immaculate. Charlie found herself marveling at the high ceiling. And then she laid on his bed and played with one of the many pillows. Throwing them in the air and catching them over and over again. Calum silently laughed while lighting another cigarette. "This is such a Suit and Tie moment." He took a drag and blew out a puff of smoke.

"Are you a secret member of The Chainsmokers? What is your deal?" Charlie stood from where she was and rested a hand on her hip.

"I dunno I just think it looks cool." Calum took another drag. "The windows are open and I've done this plenty of times before. I won't burn the house down."

"And what if you do?"

"I have fire extinguishers on every corner. It's impossible to burn this house down."

"Put out your cigarette." And Calum trying to be a gentleman listened to Charlie and crushed it in a nearby ashtray.